Polar bear Milana gives birth to cubs in German zoo

November 25, 2019

Milana the polar bear gave birth to two cubs in a Hanover zoo last week. The Erlebnis Zoo (Adventure Zoo) announced the new arrivals on Monday.

It marks the first time that polar bear cubs have been born at the zoo.

A specially installed video camera shows Milana giving birth to a cub, about the size of a guinea pig, and then lying down on her side and licking it and holding it between her front legs to keep it warm.

One cub was born on Wednesday and the other on Thursday, although one of the cubs died shortly after birth.

“From the experiences of other zoos we are aware that the first 10 days are particularly critical,” said Klaus Brunsing, the zoo’s director.

“Soon after the births, Milana was exemplary in caring for both cubs,” added Brunsing.

First sightings in the new year

No one will be allowed to go anywhere near the birthing cave, as absolute quiet is important for successful raising of the cub, according to a statement posted on the zoo’s website.

As in the wild, it is expected that Milana will leave the cave for the first time in early 2020.

Until this time, Milana and her cub’s well-being will be monitored through cameras that also pick up the sound that the cub is making.

The father of the cubs, Sprinter, first met Milana in 2017 when she arrived from Russia, and the pair hit it off almost immediately.

However, male polar bears have nothing to do with the raising of cubs, and Sprinter is already back in the polar bear enclosure.

Polar bears are classed as an endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. There are around 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears living in their natural habitat in the Arctic.

Into the lands of ice and snow

The earth’s northernmost region

The Arctic is the northernmost region of planet Earth. It’s cold, it’s remote, but it isn’t deserted. It’s home to eight diverse countries with four million inhabitants. Living in different indigenous cultures, they’re united by extreme climate, polar latitudes, and, most recently, the decline of sea ice caused by global warming.

Into the lands of ice and snow

A source of life

The Inuit have lived in Alaska, Greenland and northern Canada for thousands of years. Their homeland is called Inuit Nunangat which refers to the land, water and ice of the Arctic. To them, the region is an abundant source of life, food and culture. Photographer Acacia Johnson has lived for six months with the Inuit of Baffin Island in Canada, the country where the majority of Inuit live.

Into the lands of ice and snow

The profound impact of climate change

Canada’s Inuit use sea ice as a platform for fishing and hunting trips and to travel between regions that would otherwise be challenging to reach. The Arctic region is dominated by sea ice. Climate change has a profound impact, not just on animals and the environment, but on the Inuits’ indigenous culture and the wellbeing of all Nunavummiut, the people living in the territory of Nunavut.

Into the lands of ice and snow

Ice-free summers by the 2040s

As the ocean and atmosphere warm up, sea ice — the foundation to all life in the Arctic — is shrinking. According to several scientists’ predictions, the Arctic could be ice free during summer by the 2040s. Practically, global warming means that some travel routes become unreachable and so do traditional camp sites.

Into the lands of ice and snow

Arctic wildlife

On to Svalbard, a group of Norwegian islands between Norway and the North Pole. It never had an indigenous human population, so it’s a rich haven for Arctic wildlife — especially the polar bear, also known as the “King of the Arctic.” Polar bears are marine mammals, meaning they depend heavily on an ecosystem formed by stable sea ice.

Into the lands of ice and snow

Irregular sea ice patterns

The ice for them is a platform to hunt ringed seals, their main food source and the most common seal species around Svalbard. Although the region is currently home to many well-protected polar bears, the effects of global warming are becoming increasingly visible. Especially in summer, sea ice patterns are growing irregular.

Into the lands of ice and snow

The ‘White Continent’

Antarctica is also called the “White Continent.” With no history of human habitation, it’s considered one of the last great wildernesses of the earth. Despite its cold climate, the richness of the Antarctic marine ecosystem makes it home to an extraordinary abundance of wildlife, such as penguins, seals, and whales.

Into the lands of ice and snow

Pristine wilderness

The animals’ entire food chain is dependent on Antarctic krill which in turn are dependent on the phytoplankton that flourishes in cold temperatures with lots of sea ice. As the climate warms, the krill decrease, posing a potential threat to the Antarctic wildlife. The polar region around the South Pole remains a pristine, yet fragile wilderness.

Into the lands of ice and snow

Dramatic contrasts

Alaskan photographer Acacia Johnson has been on over 50 polar expeditions. To her, the Arctic in particular is extraordinarily vast and diverse: “The Arctic itself is defined by constant change, by the dramatic contrasts between summer and winter, abundance and dormancy, light and darkness.” Nonetheless, she says the future of the polar regions is a global issue that needs to be tackled now.

Author: Caroline Schmitt